Woodwind goes above and beyond!! We were just getting back from a snorkel when Ulf called to let us know that the dolphins were out in front of Divi!!! Tom through a camera in the housing and we rushed off. We forgot our booties so Woowind quickly got us fins and brought us out to where they were playing!!!We were free diving and playing with them for about 45 minutes!!!!! There was a pod of 6 or 7.Two of them actually went down deep and came back with a purple stove pipe sponge to play fetch with Dee!!!! There are no words to describe the feeling during this encounter. We are forever greatful!!!!!!!!! On our second encounter, we were about to set sail on Woodwind's regular sail and snorkel when the dolphins were spotted. They altered their schedule to make sure the guests could have a chance to jump in with the dolphins!!!! Dee, Ulf and crew, you are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rest of trip report will be soon.

WOW DARLENE!!!!!!! Totally, totally awesome stupendous encounter. Now, you have officially gained the ranks of the dolphin whisperer club. I know how you are feeling, sure do, bet you are singing "Under the Sea, under the sea" from Aerial and the Little Mermaid. I had a grin on my face after my encounter last year. To see them interacting with the sponge is something I have not yet seen, so really something! WOWZA! I am green over here. Emerald green, but so glad you got to enjoy it up close and personal.

Great experience for you and Tom Darlene. Almost certainly once in a lifetime to have them stay so long and then the sponge thing on top of it. I know you spend a lot of time on Bonaire and in the water, but still a rare happening. Are all the pictures yours or are there others involved? Mick

Incredible is an understatement Darlene! We've seen them pass by and we've played above water on the boat, but NEVER got that kind of interaction! I can't get over them bringing you a sponge to play with Great pictures too! Can't get much better than that.

I am glad that everyone is enjoying the pictures!! Yes, they were Bottlenose dolphins and they were very playful. Tom gets all the glory for the pictures because he is the only one that had a camera!!! I am still in awe that we had this remarkable experience!!! The memory will last a lifetime!!!

Hey Darlene...miss you! I had the same encounter on Turks & Caicos many years ago. A whole pod of dolphins played with us for over an hour and I will never forget it! No camera of course, but it's ingrained forever in my mind's eye. We were told not to touch them, but they kept bumping into us and nudging us to continue playing with them. They sure loved to play with us other mammals!